Super Chicken Avian Influenza Campaign

Country

Cambodia, Laos

Region

South East and East Asia

Programme Summary

In November 2006, the USA-based Academy for Educational Development (AED) - in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) - launched a communication campaign revolving around an invincible "superhero" chicken figure in an effort to raise awareness about how to combat avian influenza in Southeast Asia. Introduced at national water festivals in Cambodia and Laos, Super Chicken (known as "Super Moan" in Cambodia and "Super Kai" in Laos) is a broad-breasted rooster with a red cape and strong opinions about healthy behaviours. The action figure, designed to serve as an engaging but also credible source of good behaviours and best practices, appears in public service announcements (PSAs), on posters, in booklets, and at public events.

Communication Strategies

This awareness campaign uses a fun, entertaining approach to educate people about how to stop the spread of the bird flu virus. Research informed the development of the campaign: AED's surveys among backyard farmers and their communities showed that there was both a need and a desire to have more information on specific steps to take to prevent outbreaks of avian flu. The campaign was developed in Cambodia during an AED workshop with government officials, and then later adapted to the Laos context. (In Laos, Super Kai has a slightly different look; part chicken and part human, this character is somewhat bossy in temperament and travels on motorcycle or boat to help farmers and communities prevent bird flu outbreaks).

The campaign uses a variety of media to communicate concrete information about how to prevent avian flu. The rooster first appeared in Cambodia in televised PSAs (which may be viewed by clicking here). Though made lighthearted by the presence of Super Chicken, the TV ads convey details to farmers who appear in them about how to protect their families and livelihoods from infection by the virus. For example, one ad shows Super Chicken swooping down to warn a farmer about the danger associated with introducing a new chicken into his yard. With catchy music playing in the background, Super Chicken instructs the man that he should separate the new chicken from the rest of the flock for 14 days, and also wear a mask, clean his yard, and wash his hands after working. Super Chicken then indicates that he must depart in order to spread the word to other farmers, and the farmer promises that he will help by telling them, too. In this way, the ads strive to not only provide information but to increase communication among farmers about these issues.

In addition to television, Super Kai and Super Moan are also appearing on posters and in booklets. The figures have also appeared in documentaries, in street theatre performances, and at water festivals. They will continue to appear in community-based activities and events in both Cambodia and Laos.